释义
[ koi ] SHOW IPA
/ kɔɪ / PHONETIC RESPELLING
SEE SYNONYMS FOR coy ON THESAURUS.COM
adjective, coy·er, coy·est. artfully or affectedly shy or reserved; slyly hesitant; coquettish.
shy; modest.
showing reluctance, especially when insincere or affected, to reveal one's plans or opinions, make a commitment, or take a stand: The mayor was coy about his future political aspirations.
Archaic . disdainful; aloof.
Obsolete . quiet; reserved.
SEE MORE SEE LESS verb (used without object) Archaic . to act in a coy manner.
verb (used with object) Obsolete . to quiet; soothe.
to pat; caress.
Origin of coy 1300–50; Middle English <Anglo-French coi, quoy calm, Old French quei <Vulgar Latin *quētus, for Latin quiētus quiet1
SYNONYMS FOR coy 2 retiring, diffident, bashful, demure.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR coy ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM coy coyish, adjective coy·ish·ness, noun coyly, adverb coyness, noun
o·ver·coy, adjective o·ver·coy·ly, adverb o·ver·coy·ness, noun un·coy, adjective un·coy·ly, adverb un·coy·ness, noun
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Words nearby coy Coxsackie encephalitis, coxsackievirus, Cox's Orange Pippin, coxswain, Coxwell chair, coy , coydog, coyote, Coyote State, coyotillo, Coypel
Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for coy Romney is coy at best about 2016, although his old running mate, Paul Ryan, wants him to run.
The Rhinohawks Come Roaring Back | James Poulos| September 7, 2014| DAILY BEAST
At his press conference, Obama was coy about future changes in immigration law through executive order.
In Passover Phone Conversation, Eric Cantor Slams Obama | Eleanor Clift| April 17, 2014| DAILY BEAST
Did Mia stop to think how her coy tease might be perceived by the widow Sinatra?
The Woody Allen Allegations: Not So Fast | Robert B. Weide| January 27, 2014| DAILY BEAST
At least he isn't pulling a Taylor Swift and trying to be coy about who the song is about.
Lady Gaga Goes Naked on ‘ARTPOP’ Album Cover, Miley Cyrus Insults Matt Lauer’s Sex Life | Culture Team| October 7, 2013| DAILY BEAST
Coy readers should heed the lesson learned by the young woman in “The Squirrel.”
Read This and Blush: Naughty Medieval French Tales | Yunte Huang| June 13, 2013| DAILY BEAST
"Coy Maiden" is a graceful thing, but hardly deserves the punishment of so horrible a name.
Contemporary American Composers | Rupert Hughes
If Mr. Donald Estey had expected Mrs. Darling to be shy and coy at his advances, he found himself entirely mistaken.
The Road to Understanding | Eleanor H. Porter
This was his ingenious way of storming the citadel of the coy maiden's affections.
Second Book of Tales | Eugene Field
Why should she hesitate, and play the coy girl, and pretend to any doubts in her mind which did not exist there?
The Belton Estate | Anthony Trollope
From this point to the end is the work of a later period, and in his best manner, though unsuited to the coy Clerk.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 5 (of 7) -- Notes to the Canterbury Tales | Geoffrey Chaucer
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British Dictionary definitions for coy (1 of 2) adjective (usually of a woman) affectedly demure, esp in a playful or provocative manner
shy; modest
evasive, esp in an annoying way
Derived forms of coy coyish , adjective coyly , adverb coyness , noun Word Origin for coy C14: from Old French coi reserved, from Latin quiētus quiet
British Dictionary definitions for coy (2 of 2) Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Words related to coy self-effacing, timid, bashful, skittish, evasive, backward, blushing, demure, diffident, flirtatious, humble, kittenish, prudish, reserved, retiring, shrinking, shy, coquettish, overmodest, rabbity